Christmas in a War Zone simply can never be forgotten. Fortunately, the Christmas I spent in one was quiet so we actually got to remember why the date is significant, sing some songs, even exchange some presents.

It was a rather odd place to be on that Christmas in 1990. We were a stationary base in the UAE but didn't seem to be on any maps, had trouble getting mail, and were under very different rules than those serving in other locations. When the guys sorting the mail finally did figure out that we existed, we suddenly became the dumping ground for "To Any Soldier" letters and boxes. By mid-December, we had accumulated a pile of boxes about 40' x 60' x 10' tall. Something simply had to be done.

The shooting war hadn't started yet. We were all pretty bored with life in the desert. We had C-130's, lots of them, and plenty of folks looking for something to do. The chaplain came up with an idea, but we first needed to open all the boxes and see what we had. Somebody kept the return addresses, while others sorted, so that the senders could be contacted.

What we found was that we had enough stuff to provide goodie bags for every soldier in a remote location in theater! The Prince of our Emirate got involved and gave us materials to make festive bags and ties. So, the C-130 Elves went to work, making and stuffing bags. How (or if) they got clearance to make the air drops, I will never know, but some low level flights were made, bags dropped, and some very lonely guys had extra toothpaste, razors, cookies, candies, small puzzles and other small items that year.

On Christmas Day, we all got together around tent city, had groups of carolers, played Christmas music, and shared what we had with each other. We had built a Christmas Tree from mosquito netting and sticks sitting on the porch of my sleeping tent. That tree had a LOT of visitors, with it's makeshift ornaments and the string of lights someone found in one of those boxes. It felt like an old-fashioned Christmas.

Aaahhh. The sands of the desert that Christmas held a special importance that year. As the sands swirled around, with the smells of that desert air, it was not difficult to imagine what life was like on that first Christmas, the evening that Christ was born. Perhaps some of the very sand we walked on that night had been walked on before by one of the prophets, maybe even Jesus himself.

Everyone who has served in a war zone has special memories of the times of isolation, with comrades in arms, being away from family on significant days, missing the births, the illnesses, and especially the holidays. As we reflect on our lives and our service, most of us have memories of those times together that not only can never be forgotten but are an integral part of who we are today. As strange as it may seem, that Christmas of 1990 is among the best times of my life, and I wouldn't have missed it for anything, except perhaps Peace on Earth.

Contributed by Bobbie (OWB) on December 25, 2006 at 08:15 PM in Christmas | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: Bill Faith

Outstanding, Bobby. Sorry I missed it last night and didn't get it linked at my place. I will next year.

Posted by: Bill Faith | Dec 26, 2006 1:55:43 PM